Food Resource Center News

• Local Swim Clubs Support Food Resource Center
• First National Bank of River Falls Sponsors Food Resource Center Shipment
• Allina Supports the Food Resource Center
• O'Connell Family Funeral Home Raises Money for Food Resource Center
• Agencies Share Struggles, Successes at Food Resource Center Open House
• Holiday Give-A-Thon Exceeds Goal
• United Way Staff and the Live United Food Sculpture
• Holiday Give-A-Thon to Benefit Food Resource Center
• Knights of Columbus Sponsors April Food Shipment
• First National Bank of River Falls Supports Food Resource Center
• Bremer Bank Employees Volunteer at Food Resource Center
• Family Fresh Market Donates 300 Meals to Food Resource Center
• Second Harvest Heartland Releases Food Report
• The Deerfield Sponsors January Food Shipment
• Valley Cartage Donates to Food Resource Center
• Hudson Rotary Club Sponsors May Food Distribution
• United Way Food Resource Center Invites Community to Open House
• United Way Food Resource Center July 2007 Update
• United Way and Trinity Lutheran Break Ground on Food Resource Center
• Local United Way Launches Campaign to Build Food Resource Center

Local Swim Clubs Support Food Resource Center

Hudson Area Swim Association (HASA) and River Falls Swim Club (RFSC) held a dual swim meet in Hudson on Dec. 20, 2011 and did a peanut butter drive for the United Way St. Croix Valley Food Resource Center. 86 jars of peanut butter were donated. Pictured left to right: Grace Schmidt, HASA swimmer and John Coughlin, United Way St. Croix Valley Executive Director.

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First National Bank of River Falls Sponsors Food Resource Center Shipment

First National Bank of River Falls is the December 2011 Food Resource Center shipment sponsor. Pictured at the Food Resource Center are First National Employee Volunteers, left to right, Sue Langer, Jeff Johnson, Ken Osowski, Kaydi Peterson and missing from the photo Nicole Moscowitz. Also pictured second from the right is United Way St. Croix Valley’s Executive Director, John Coughlin. Click here to read the full press release from First National Bank of River Falls.

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Allina Supports the Food Resource Center

Allina Hospitals & Clinics recently contributed $2,500 to sponsor a truckload of food for the United Way St. Croix Valley’s Food Resource Center. Allina staff also volunteered to help distribute the food to local pantries on Tuesday, October 4. “We know food insecurity is a real problem right now, and this is a great way for us to support food shelves throughout Western Wisconsin,” explained David Miller, president of River Falls Area Hospital. “The United Way is able to turn our $2,500 contribution into about $10,000 worth of food, which they then distribute throughout the region.”

Pictured (L to R) are Kristen Novak, Beth Nelson, Tracy Dierks Smith and Pam Heinzen, Allina; and John Coughlin, United Way.

View photos of Allina staff and Coughlin with representatives from the River Falls and Woodville food pantries.

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O'Connell Family Funeral Home Raises Money for Food Resource Center

United Way St. Croix Valley's Food Resource Center was a beneficiary of O'Connell Family Funeral Home's dunk tank fundraiser at its 25th anniversary open house celebration August 21, 2011. Local pastors were invited to sit in the dunk tank throughout the day and $203.81 in proceeds were donated to the Food Resource Center.

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Agencies Share Struggles, Successes at Food Resource Center Open House

United Way St. Croix Valley's Food Resource Center Open House was held Friday, May 20 to celebrate three years of operation. The event featured speakers from United Way funded agencies St. Croix County Aging & Disability Resource Center, West CAP and The Salvation Army/Grace Place. The speakers explained the struggles faced by those they serve and how United Way St. Croix Valley funds directly benefit their work in the community. To view photos from the event, click here. To read Hudson Star-Observer's story on the open house and the history of the Food Resource Center, click here. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the first Food Resource Center Open House a success!

FRC Open House attendees listen to a speaker

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Holiday Give-A-Thon Exceeds Goal

United Way St. Croix Valley's first online Holiday Give-A-Thon, held during the month of December, exceeded its goal of $2,000, raising a total of $2,122.

The total includes a $1,000 match from fundraising processor Razoo, who matched the first $1,000 raised dollar for dollar.

The money raised through this fundraiser will go towards the United Way Food Resource Center's December food shipment, which has provided food to hungry families this holiday season.

United Way St. Croix Valley thanks the Holiday Give-A-Thon fundraisers and donors for making this project a success.

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United Way Staff and the Live United Food Sculpture

United Way St. Croix Valley's staff was so inspired by the food sculptures from October's United We Can contest (winners and photos here) that they decided to create their own sculpture, to be donated to the United Way Food Resource Center. LIVE UNITED!

Pictured left to right are United Way Staff John Coughlin, Linda Lia, Kate Smith, Carol Sarafin, Mary Paul and Kent Tollakson.

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Holiday Give-A-Thon to Benefit Food Resource Center

In the spirit of the season, United Way St. Croix Valley is holding its first online Holiday Give-A-Thon. The first $1,000 donated will be matched by Razoo, so your gift has a chance to double its impact and make an even bigger difference in St. Croix, Pierce and Polk Counties.

The money raised through this fundraiser will go towards our Food Resource Center's December food shipment, which will provide food to hungry families this holiday season.

Share the season with someone special by donating to United Way in their name. Send your name and the name of the person you are making the gift in honor of to ksmith@unitedwaystcroix.org and we will create a personalized card for you to present to the person.

Click here to see our fundraisers for the Holiday Give-A-Thon and to donate.

Thank you for your support of United Way St. Croix Valley! Happy Holidays!

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Knights of Columbus Sponsors April Food Shipment

United Way St. Croix Valley is thankful to Knights of Columbus for its $2,500 sponsorship of the April food shipment to the Food Resource Center. The following Councils participated in making the award: Ray Koller, Grand Knight, Council 5456; Patrick Bechel, Grand Knight, Council 6599; Donald Leier, Grand Knight, Council 4954; Dennis Malecek, Grand Knight, Council 7030; Paul Krenik, Grand Knight, Council 1762; Rob Daugherty, Grand Knight, Council 7342; BJ Grant, Grand Knight, Council 4902; Ed Colosky, Grand Knight, Council 6759. Pictured left to right are Tom O'Connell, United Way St. Croix Valley Board Member; John Coughlin, United Way St. Croix Valley Executive Director; Paul Krenik, Grand Knight, St. Croix Council 1762; and Jim Michaelson, District Deputy.

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First National Bank of River Falls Supports Food Resource Center

Through a variety of fundraising initiatives, First National Bank of River Falls was able to support United Way St. Croix Valley’s Food Resource Center for the month of August 2009. Beginning with a two dollar contribution from the bank for every completed customer survey, First National Bank’s efforts grew to include employee fundraising activities such as a breakfast where donations were accepted and a casual dress day for each employee who made a contribution to United Way. In addition, bank employees volunteered their time working at the Food Resource Center. Pictured L to R: Front row - Tammy Bruesewitz, Jeanne Harris and Kris Webster of First National Bank, John Coughlin of United Way St. Croix Valley, and Anders Olson and Brad Olson of the River Falls Food Pantry. Back row - Rick Prokash and Tim Cashman of First National Bank and Stephen Smith of the River Falls Food Pantry.

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Bremer Bank Employees Volunteer at Food Resource Center

Employees from Bremer Bank volunteered their time and effort at the United Way St. Croix Valley Food Resource Center as part of Bremer's "Taking Action Against Hunger" campaign. Pictured L to R: Front row - Maltee McMahon, David Tyvoll and Melanie Singleton. Back row - Christine Buckman.

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Family Fresh Market Donates 300 Meals to Food Resource Center

Family Fresh Market announced Wednesday, April 1 the donation of 300 meals to United Way St. Croix Valley's Food Resource Center. The meals serve a family of four and were presented to United Way Saturday, April 4 at the Family Fresh Market in Hudson. For more details, read the news release from Family Fresh Market.

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Second Harvest Heartland Releases Food Report

Second Harvest Heartland has released a report online detailing the current unmet food needs in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. The results of the report state that 165 million more meals per year are needed in order to ensure all low-income individuals and families in the area have enough food for three nutritious meals each day. This translates to 12% more food needed in Minnesota and 18% more food in Western Wisconsin. The missing amounts are equivalent to all area low-income families missing 14 meals each month.

You can help United Way St. Croix Valley work to solve this problem by supporting the United Way Food Resource Center. Please visit our Give page to learn more about how you can help.

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The Deerfield Sponsors January Food Shipment

The Deerfield is happy to announce that they have reached their goal to raise $2,500 to purchase the January shipment of a semi truck-load containing more than 20,000 pounds of food for the United Way Food Resource Center. Since February of 2008, the Food Resource Center has distributed more than 273,000 pounds of food to area pantries, shelters and meal programs. “It was a stretch for us, but we felt we were successful because of the prevalent need in Western Wisconsin. It was something that both staff and residents were passionate about. This was a great opportunity for outreach in our community,” JoAnn Wrich, Campus Administrator for The Deerfield, said. Pictured L to R: JoAnn Wrich, Judy Haworth, Administrative Assistant and Fundraising co-chair.

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Valley Cartage Donates to Food Resource Center

Valley Cartage delivers miscellaneous donations from Valley Cartage and Cardinal to the United Way St. Croix Valley Food Resource Center. View second photo.

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Hudson Rotary Club Sponsors May Food Distribution

Hudson Rotary Club is the second sponsor for the May Food Distribution on behalf of United Way St. Croix Valley’s Food Resource Center (FRC). Annette Murray Rud, Resource Development Manager for United Way accepted a $500 check from Shelli Erck, President of Hudson Rotary’s Noon Formation on May 22. More than 106,000 pounds of food and goods have been distributed to nearly 20 food pantries and community meal programs since the program began in February of this year. For more information on sponsorship levels, please view our sponsorship sheet.

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United Way Food Resource Center Invites Community to Open House

The United Way Food Resource Center will hold an open house on Feb. 2, 2008 from noon to 2 p.m. During this time the public will be able to tour the new facility serving St. Croix and Pierce Counties. For more information, please view the press release.

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United Way Food Resource Center July 2007 Update

United Way and Trinity Lutheran Church have teamed up to begin construction of the United Way Food Resource Center. To learn about progress on the fundraising campaign and building construction, please view the July 2007 Food Resource Center update newsletter.

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United Way and Trinity Lutheran Break Ground on Food Resource Center

United Way St. Croix Valley and Trinity Lutheran Church broke ground on a Food Resource Center that will serve St. Croix and Pierce Counties. The building will also house Trinity’s We Do Feet ministry.

Pastor Tim Booth of Trinity Lutheran Church opened the "ground blessing" ceremony with a prayer. He spoke of the importance of doing Jesus' work in our communities. He said, "Jesus works through his people and we at Trinity Lutheran Church are excited to be part of this project to help people meet their basic needs. This Center will ensure that people have enough food and can also obtain good used furniture for their homes."

Jim Miller, president of the Trinity Lutheran Church Board, introduced guests from Trinity and the United Way board and staff. Les Berg from Trinity's We Do Feet explained that the group takes in used furniture and appliances, does needed repairs and then gets the items out to families in need. Berg said this is a perfect opportunity to partner and meet dual needs.

"I am thrilled to be here today to celebrate this important joint endeavor," John Coughlin, United Way St. Croix Valley Executive Director, said. "This project has moved very quickly from the time United Way first saw the need and our ability to support the work of the food pantries and shelters in our communities. There simply isn't enough storage for all the food that is needed to feed the hungry and this building will change that. Trinity and our lead donors quickly joined the drive to lead us to today’s turning of the soil."

Coughlin introduced major donors to the Food Resource Center. Lead supporters include: Ken Heiser, First National Bank of Hudson – soon to be part of the Associated Bank family; Jim Wookey, WESTconsin Credit Union; Heather McAbee, Bremer Bank in New Richmond, representing the Otto Bremer Foundation; and David Griffith and Jill Shannon from the St. Croix Valley Community Foundation.

Coughlin also thanked Nor-Lake Industries for the pledged donation of a freezer/cooler, and County Market, Hudson for the donation of shelving and lighting for the facility. Other donors have brought United Way to over 75% of the $250,000 fundraising goal for the building. He went on to explain that this facility will support an ongoing partnership with SUPERVALU. Since 2005, United Way has coordinated donations of surplus food and products from SUPERVALU to support local anti-hunger programs. Coughlin also mentioned a new partnership with Second Harvest Heartland and explained that shipments from Second Harvest will be received at the facility. Pantry and shelter volunteers will come to the Food Resource Center when they need to restock the shelves or pick up fresh and frozen foods. United Way’s overall goal for the project is to bring more surplus food into the Valley to ensure that no child ever goes to bed hungry.

Coughlin then invited those present to don hardhats and pick up the gold shovels for the official groundbreaking for the Food Resource Center.

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Local United Way Launches Campaign to Build Food Resource Center

United Way St. Croix Valley has launched a $250,000 fundraising campaign to build a Food Resource Center in Hudson with the goal of ending hunger in Western Wisconsin.

According to Second Harvest Heartland, the largest distributor of food in the Midwest, "Food insecurity exists whenever the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods is uncertain or the ability to acquire food in socially acceptable ways is limited. Hunger is the uneasy or painful sensations caused by lack of food."

Families and seniors in our communities often face the tough choice between buying food, paying rent or buying prescription medicines. And the number of families struggling to meet their basic needs is increasing every week. Second Harvest Heartland reports that individuals served by member agencies rose to 169,600 per month in 2005: an alarming 45% increase since 2001.

"Food is arguably the most basic need for families and individuals in our community. The ten food pantries serving Pierce and St. Croix Counties have limited space to store food and often the shelves empty out before the need is served. And there is often no place to store perishable food such as milk, cheese and the fresh produce," said John Coughlin, Executive Director.

United Way St. Croix Valley’s facility will store food and commodities for redistribution to food pantries, Grace Place shelter, the domestic abuse shelter and community meal programs. The Food Resource Center’s industrial-sized freezer and cooler will mean that pantries will have a steady supply of milk, cheese, eggs, fruits and fresh vegetables – bringing more food into the Valley. Pantry volunteers will pick up perishables at designated times for redistribution to residents of Pierce and St. Croix Counties.

The Food Resource Center will also provide freezer storage for donated venison. Hunters in the St. Croix Valley generously provide venison for hungry families and seniors. Last year, more than 23,000 pounds of meat was processed into burger – triple the amount donated in the previous year.

United Way has an opportunity to build the Center as the result of a special partnership with Trinity Lutheran Church. Trinity has agreed to lease the land for the building for $1 per year – making this important distribution center possible at a greatly reduced cost. The Center will be built at the Trinity Family Center on Highway 12 and Badlands Road in Hudson.

The building will also have a significant amount of open area that will be used for Trinity Lutheran Church’s "We Do Feet" ministry. The focus of this program is to help the needy by collecting, repairing and donating used furniture, beds and other household items. The space could also be used a distribution site for emergency supplies in case of a community crisis.

"Jesus teaches us that our life is to be a life of service. At Trinity, we try in practical, concrete, hands-on ways to provide the help and service that I think Jesus talks about," said Rev. Tim Booth, Trinity Lutheran Church.

Another driving reason for the project is United Way St. Croix Valley’s unique relationship with grocer SUPERVALU. Since 2005, SUPERVALU has partnered with United Way by making quarterly donations of surplus food and products to United Way St. Croix Valley for redistribution to food pantries, shelters and community meals. These programs lack space to accept these donations directly.

Currently, the semi-trailer deliveries of food from SUPERVALU are dropped at whatever business United Way can find that is willing to provide a corner of their warehouse.  SUPERVALU has offered to increase the frequency of the donations when the Food Resource Center is complete.

Bulk commodities, available through county and state programs, will also become a resource for the food pantries. The Center will be a drop site for large deliveries of food ordered from Second Harvest Heartland. Pantries can use cash donations to cover Second Harvest’s modest handling charge and get about $9 worth of food products for every $1 spent. Food can be safely stored at the Center until the pantries need it.

The $250,000 fundraising campaign has two components. $150,000 will be used to construct the building. The St. Croix Valley Community Foundation has committed a dollar for dollar match of $50,000 to create a $100,000 long-term fund for maintenance and operations of the facility.

United Way St. Croix Valley already has a strong partnership with nonprofit agencies working to address basic human needs – shelters, meal programs, emergency assistance and food pantries. The Food Resource Center will take these critical community programs to a whole new level of service to those in need in Pierce and St. Croix Counties.

United Way sees five concrete outcomes as a result of this project:

• There will be a more efficient and cost-effective means to receive and store large quantities of food;
• Pantries will no longer run out of food and families can get the food that they need;
• Families can stretch limited budgets by receiving food, used furniture and other household items;
• Food will be available when subsidized school breakfast and lunch programs are closed during the summer months; and
• The Center will store household items such as medical supplies, toiletries, diapers, cleaners and paper products that cannot be purchased with food stamps.

"We invite community members and area businesses to be active partners in supporting this fight to end hunger," said United Way Board President Jim Dahl. "Together we will ensure that no child in the St. Croix Valley ever goes to bed hungry!"

For more information, visit www.unitedwaystcroix.org, or call 715-377-0203 ext. 102.

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